“King David rose to his feet and said: ‘Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. But God said to me, “You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.”’”—1 Chronicles 28:2–3 (NIV)

I remember making a pact with my husband that if our firstborn was a boy, he would name him, and if it was a girl, I would name her. When the time came to find out the sex of our baby, I wept in our doctor’s office as I laid on the ultrasound table because I found out I would not be naming our firstborn after all. And so, Kenny named him Joshua because out of all the characters in the Bible, he related to Moses the most, and Joshua was his successor. For his middle name, I had the honor to choose Isaac, because my favorite Bible character is Abraham, and we wanted to pass the torch as parents to Joshua Isaac. 

As we look at today’s passage, we’re brought into another deeply emotional moment. David, near the end of his life and struggling with his health, stands with a full heart before the leaders of Israel. He’s led the nation through wars, victories, worship, and personal failures. 

David said, “I had it in my heart to build a house” for the Lord. His motives were right. His desire was pure—to give God a permanent dwelling; a house of worship and a place of rest. But God said NO. What do we do when our greatest dreams for God are denied? David teaches us something profound: We are to accept God’s “no” because we understand His story is bigger than ours. David’s hands were stained with blood. But God’s response wasn’t just about judgment, it was about purpose. God’s temple was to be a place of rest, and so it would be built by David’s son, Solomon, a king of peace.

But even Solomon’s temple wouldn’t be the final house of the Lord. Hundreds of years later, another Son of David would come—Jesus, the true King of peace. And unlike David, He wasn’t disqualified from building the house of God. In fact, He is the house (John 2:19). Jesus, Himself, is the true meeting place between God and man. Through His death and resurrection, He made a way for us to become His temple—living stones, indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 2:5; 1 Corinthians 6:19).

David couldn’t build the temple, but he helped prepare for it. He accepted his role in the bigger story. Just like parents, mentors, or leaders today, our job isn’t always to finish the work, but to faithfully prepare the next generation to do it. Although hard to accept, Scripture honors those who faithfully prepare, even if they don’t see the end.

Hebrews 11, the “Hall of Faith,” reminds us, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off . . . Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:13, 16 NKJV). 

Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and others lived by faith—trusting God’s promise, even though they never saw the full picture. Like David, they laid foundations for a future they couldn’t see but fully believed in.

Like naming our son Joshua Isaac, we pass on more than names—we pass on calling, identity, and legacy. And in Christ, we pass on something even greater: the invitation to be part of the house He is building. May we be content with our role in God’s story—even when it’s not center stage. Because Jesus is the greater Solomon, the Prince of Peace, and the temple builder whose kingdom will never fade.

Pause: Take a moment to reflect on these questions: Is there something you “had in your heart” to do for God that didn’t come to pass? How did you respond? Are you willing to accept a “no” from God, trusting His bigger purpose?

Practice: Write down one area in your life where you feel God’s calling you to prepare, even if you’re not the one to complete the work. This could be in your parenting, your ministry, your career, or your community. Ask God to show you how to equip others to carry the vision forward.

Pray: Lord, thank You that Your plans are always higher than mine. Even when You say “no,” I know You’re still working for my good and Your glory. Help me accept my role in Your bigger story, whether it’s to build, to prepare, or to pass the torch. Let me find joy in being part of what You’re doing and peace in knowing that Jesus is the true temple. Build Your house in me. Amen.